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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / June 2007What do the PSA results mean
I don't know much about prostate problems, but my 58-year-old father is currently undergoing tests to determine whether or not he has cancer. The initial results seem very scary and everything I have found on the internet supports my current panic. My dad had his PSA's tested eleven months ago and the level was 0.4. His level this past week was 22.0. His tests also showed elevated liver and thyroid function. He is experiencing several symptoms that may possibly be related to his prostate - frequent urination, fever and general flu- like symptoms. From what I've read on the internet, his PSA level is cause for much concern and how rapid the level rose over the last eleven months can indicate that, if he has cancer, it would be an aggressive form of cancer. Additionally, I have read that elevated liver function levels are a common indicator that prostate cancer has spread to the bones. The doctors are going to do the tests again in a couple of weeks, but it is very hard not to panic at this point. To make matters worse, we moved 2000 miles away from where my family, including my father, live to take a job transfer for my husband. Having to wait for test results from this far away have me feeling a little more than lost. If anyone has any knowledge of what the reality of these test results is, I would appreciate very much hearing from them. My dad is not very open when it comes to health issues and I just want to be prepared for what the probable outcome will be based on his initial tests. If there is any cause for hope, I would love to hear that as well. I have a young daughter and, for her sake, I want to be prepared for every possible scenerio. Thank you! On Jun 19, 11:27 am, mar...@nc.rr.com wrote: > I don't know much about prostate problems, but my 58-year-old father > is currently undergoing tests to determine whether or not he has [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > hear that as well. I have a young daughter and, for her sake, I want > to be prepared for every possible scenerio. Thank you! I can appreciate your concen, certainly the big increase in PSA in 11 months is significant. Along with a PSA test it is routine for the doctor to have done a Digital Rectal Exam. The two week wait I would suspect, would be to receive the results of a Biopsy from the Prostate Gland. The results of the Biopsy will determine just where your dad stands and if in fact he has PC and what the course of his trreatment will be. This is the procedure that I followed 12 years ago. Keep us posted and I wish your dad well. On June 19, marcy wrote: > I don't know much about prostate problems, but my 58-year-old father > is currently undergoing tests to determine whether or not he has > cancer. The initial results seem very scary and everything I have > found on the internet supports my current panic. Panic is not helpful, though not unusual as an initial reaction. The test results are not specified, so it is not possible to evaluate Dad's situation, other than that the PSA is cause for concern. However, prostate specific antigen is NOT cancer-specific. At most, it can alert one to the need for further tests. I recommend the best possible place to start is the authoritative and objective website of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI) at http://prostate-cancer.org/index.html Go first to the "Decision Aide" section. And a diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) is far from a death sentence. Regards, Steve J "What are the facts? Again and again and again -- what are the facts? Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget 'what the stars foretell,' avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind the unguessable 'verdict of history' -- what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are your single clue. Get the facts!" --Lazarus Long >I don't know much about prostate problems, but my 58-year-old father > is currently undergoing tests to determine whether or not he has > cancer. The initial results seem very scary and everything I have > found on the internet supports my current panic. My dad had his PSA's > tested eleven months ago and the level was 0.4. His level this past > week was 22.0. In an of itself, this is a pretty strong indicator of cancer. However, it is not time to push the panic button. Prostate cancer is slow growing and, in many cases, curable. So, take a deep breath, accept the possibility that he has cancer, but also the probability that he's going to be around for years to come. > His tests also showed elevated liver and thyroid > function. I have not heard of these as being indicators of prostate cancer, unless it is already systemic, which I doubt. > He is experiencing several symptoms that may possibly be > related to his prostate - frequent urination, fever and general flu- > like symptoms. Frequent urination is a common symptom, but it might be good news that he has these other symptoms. It might be infection, something that is more easily curable. > From what I've read on the internet, his PSA level is > cause for much concern and how rapid the level rose over the last > eleven months can indicate that, if he has cancer, it would be an > aggressive form of cancer. Yes, and yes. > Additionally, I have read that elevated > liver function levels are a common indicator that prostate cancer has > spread to the bones. Makes sense, but again, not with a 22 PSA. Not that it's impossible, just not normal. In short, your father has something wrong with him, probably in the prostate. But, there is no reason to believe, at this time, that he won't see you daughter's grade school graduation. On Jun 19, 2:27 pm, mar...@nc.rr.com wrote: > My dad's PSA's eleven months ago was 0.4. and now 22.0. (edit) snip At this point he needs a DRE (Digital Rectal Exam) and a needle biopsy - the next tests in order of an elevated PSA. I'm assuming his Doc did these and just didn't wait 2 weeks for another PSA. I can only rationalize that he/she might have been thinking a bad test, but still, these are 2 procedures that are fairly simple and add to the data. Your mind can play tricks on you when you first start reading about PC and start to find similarities. Many times the similarities are only coincidental - the answer is to keep collecting more facts and data. > To make matters worse, we moved 2000 miles away from where my family, > including my father, live to take a job transfer for my husband. > Having to wait for test results from this far away have me feeling a > little more than lost. No matter what the outcome, you have much time to support your Dad from wherever > If there is any cause for hope I can think of many things to show cause for hope - many! Good luck and keep us posted - we care. Rich A one-time spike in PSA does not mean a death sentence, it might not even indicate cancer. The fact that he has elevated liver and thyroid function may indicate something else is going on, especially along with the fever and flu-like symptoms. My father-in-law experienced a bout of kidney failure due to diabetes a few years ago and at the height of his problems, his PSA shot up to 66. As soon as he regained kidney function and recovered his health such as it was, his PSA went down to the normal range. There should be concern that something is going on but prostate cancer may not be at the top of the list. All the best to you and your father. Dave Perry On Jun 19, 11:27 am, mar...@nc.rr.com wrote: > I don't know much about prostate problems, but my 58-year-old father > is currently undergoing tests to determine whether or not he has [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > hear that as well. I have a young daughter and, for her sake, I want > to be prepared for every possible scenerio. Thank you! On Jun 19, 2:27 pm, mar...@nc.rr.com wrote: > ... My dad had his PSA's > tested eleven months ago and the level was 0.4. His level this past > week was 22.0. His tests also showed elevated liver and thyroid > function. He is experiencing several symptoms that may possibly be > related to his prostate - frequent urination, fever and general flu- > like symptoms. I know it's all scary, and it hurts more since you're far away. But if your father is getting tests and taking steps to deal with it, then he's got it in hand as much as possible. One test he should have had is a free PSA test. This measures the precentage of PSA in the bloodstream not bound to proteins -- the lower the percentage, the more likely it is that the increase in PSA is due to cancer. >From what you're describing, I'm wondering if this isn't something else, like an infection. Prostate cancer in men your father's age is generally very slow growing. A rise from 0.4 to 22 in eleven months is not consistent with slow growth. Many of us, when we get the diagnosis, have no symptoms at all! I had none when I was diagnosed last year (age 51). Fever and flu-like symptoms are consistent with a bad infection. As long as he has had a DRE, a free PSA test, and a needle biopsy -- preferably in that order -- he's doing the right things. And even if he gets the diagnosis of PCa, there are a lot of reasons to hope. If caught early enough, it's treatable. If not, it can still be managed and controlled for many years. There are new treatments coming on line. There's even reason to hope that there will be a cure in the near future. You can get some good information about the prostate online, but some sites are not so good, and that can be a source of your unwarranted panic. Steve Jordan suggested the Prostate Cancer Research Institute, and that's a good sober source. If you can get to a library or a bookstore, The Prostate Book by Peter Scardino or The Prostate by Patrick Walsh are both good sources that contain info not only on prostate cancer, but also on other prostate matters: BPH (aka "enlarged prostate") prostatitis, etc. It sounds like your father's doing the right thing. Trust him to keep doing it. And please, invite him to join this NG is he has questions. All the best, charlie I'm not a doctor and can't claim special expertise, but here are some non-expert observations. I'll add my voice to the others who have said that something other than cancer may be involved. To the best of my knowledge, fever and flu like symptoms are not associated with prostate cancer, but are associated with infection, possible an infection that is in the prostate as well as the respiratory system. Urinary problems can be associated with PCa, but usually not when the PSA is still only 22. Again, perhaps a prostate infection is causing the problem. Inflammation in the prostate can press against the urethra, making urination difficult. Your Dad's doctors will be able to tell the real situation when they have completed a biopsy. Best of luck to your Dad and your family. Alan I can apprecaite your worry but the guys on here have given you some good solid advice Please remember the maxim I have followed over the last 2 years since being diagnosed.... CANCER IS A WORD NOT A SENTENCE HTH Cheers Bernie |
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